Allan Bernardo

Dr Allan Bernardo is a trailblazer in the field of social psychology and arguably the most internationally recognised Filipino psychologist today. A Yale graduate, he made history as the only Filipino social scientist elected to The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) and the only Filipino to sit on the leadership board of the International Union of Psychological Science. Having served as president of both the Asian Association of Social Psychology and the Psychological Association of the Philippines, he has been a key figure in shaping how psychology is taught and practised across the region.

His research focuses on the science of success. He studies Hope Theory, polyculturalism and the hidden factors behind educational achievement. In other words, he uses data to understand how optimism and cultural background influence a person’s ability to succeed in school and life. His prolific output—nearly 300 published works—has kept him on Stanford University’s Top 2 Percent Scientists list for five consecutive years. He also holds a unique distinction in the publishing world: he is the only Filipino to have served as editor-in-chief for two major internationally ranked academic journals.

At De La Salle University, Dr Bernardo translates his research into action by heading the Psychology of Hope and Well-Being Research Laboratory (HopeLab@DLSU), where he mentors a new generation of scholars studying how hope and positive psychology shape Filipino lives and communities. As the youngest person to be inducted into the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), his legacy is defined by a commitment to rigorous science that doesn't just stay in the classroom but actively improves how we understand Filipino resilience and society.